Hi All:

Below is an account of the grossly unfair treatment of observers and the unjustifiable protection of the sealers. Here are some things you can do to help.

If you haven't done so already please sign Pamela Anderson's petition to end the seal hunt which she wants to deliver to Stephen Harper in person.

http://www.furisdead.com/feat-pampetition.asp?c=fid103

Go to the following Nfld. tourism web site. then go to "contact us" and let them know you won't be visiting any time soon, at least not until this bloodbath has come to an end. Please distribute far and wide. If you have friends or relatives ouside Canada, please pass it on to them.

www.newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com

HSUS Statement on Today's Incidents at the Canadian Seal Hunt March 26, 2006

This afternoon, in an apparent set up, Canadian authorities charged seven legally permitted observers of the Canadian seal hunt--staff of The Humane Society of the United States and independent media-- with violating the conditions of their observation permits.

The event occurred in the Gulf of St. Lawrence while observers were documenting apparent violations by sealers of the marine mammal regulations that govern the commercial seal hunt. The observers, who were traveling in rigid inflatables, were following a sealing vessel through heavy pack ice. The vessel quickly changed direction, cutting off the inflatables, and forcing them to navigate a path away from the boat while avoiding the ice floes. The HSUS inflatables managed to move away to safety. However, at that moment, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials (who had been out of view on board the sealing vessel) emerged and summoned the HSUS observers.

Rebecca Aldworth, director of Canadian Wildlife issues for The Humane Society of the United States, along with five other staffers and a member of the media were charged with violating the conditions of their observation permits (permits issued to observers require a distance of 10 meters be kept from a sealer engaged in hunting seals).

The sealing vessel that HSUS observers were charged with being too close to had, with another sealing boat, repeatedly charged towards the HSUS inflatables just an hour before. At that time, a nearby vessel had twice tried to summon the Coast Guard to assist the HSUS, but had received no response.

This happened several hours after the same team was rammed by another large sealing vessel, an action that clearly endangered the lives of the seal hunt observers.

Ironically, sealers who rammed and endangered the lives of HSUS staff and media have not been arrested, yet peaceful staffers there to document the hunt were charged. Seal hunt footage taken by observers was confiscated by the officials.